In Vivo Pore Size Estimation in White Matter with Double Wave Vector Diffusion Weighting

Martin A. Koch¹, Jrgen Finsterbusch¹

Diffusion weighting with two gradient pulse pairs of independent direction (double wave vector diffusion weighting) can provide tissue structure information which is not easily accessible otherwise, such as cell size or shape. For free diffusion, it is irrelevant whether the diffusion gradients in the two weightings are parallel or antiparallel with respect to each other. In restricted diffusion, differences between these situations occur at short mixing times. Here, a DWV sequence with short mixing time is used to estimate the pore size in the human corticospinal tracts in vivo, and analytical expressions for cylindrical pores are used for data analysis.